Finger nail polish remover



United States Patent FINGER NAIL POLISH REMOVER Gabriele Wnrmbiick, ne Ma; Rolf Niemann; Egon Wurmbiick, Landsbuter Alle 73; and Oscar Wunnbiick, Kaiserstrasse 39, all of Munich, Germany; said Gabriele Wurmbiick, ne Ma, and Rolf Niemann nslgnoll to said Egon Wurmbiiek and said Oscar Wnrmbiick No Drawing. Filed Feb. 25, 1951, Ser. No. 641,808

Claims priority, application Gernuny Feb. 29, 1956 4 Claims. (Cl. 252-143 This invention relates to a novel and particularly ad vantageous nail polish remover.

Various formulae for nail polish removers are known, but none of these has led so far to really satisfactory results. On the one hand, there are liquid nail polish removers in the form of solvents or solvent mixtures, on the other hand, there are nail polish removers of paste-like consistency, which comprise one or several solvents solidified by means of waxes, soaps and the like.

The known liquid nail polish removers require large amounts of solvents, and must be applied by means of daubers of cotton, cellulose, or similar material. As a result, smearing and soiling of the surrounding skin areas is likely to occur. In addition, such nail polish remover may cause bleaching and breaking of the nails, as well as whitening of the nails and the surrounding skin areas, and may produce an unpleasant cold feeling when applied.

The known pasty nail polish removers have the disadvantage in requiring that each nail must be treated individually, which is time consuming. Also, the adjoining skin areas are easily smeared and soiled. Since the slightly recessed marginal nail zones are hard to free same from these pasty substances, subsequent washing with soap is often necessary.

Thus it is known, for example, to use as a nail polish remover a polish solvent mixed with a substance which yields, after addition of water, a colloidal solution, in such a way that this water soluble mixture is rubbed on the nail and the latter rinsed off with water. The use of water soluble solvents in the manufacture of nail polish removers has the disadvantage, however, that their polish-dissolving power is considerably reduced When they are diluted with water.

It is also known to use as a nail polish remover a polish solvent mixed with an emulsion or a hydrophilic substance. For example, the polish solvent may be mixed in a homogenizing apparatus with an emulsion of waxes, hydrocarbons, oils or fats, and, if necessary, also nailprotecting fat and substances. The emulsion may have been produced by means of soap or some other emulsifier. However, the above mentioned disadvantages inherent in pasty nail polish removers are not thus eliminated.

Finally, it is known to produce a skin cleansing agent for varnish stains as they appear unavoidably on the hands of workers in varnish plants and paint shops, by

mixing the varnish solvent with anhydrous or practically.

moval of nail polish from finger nails without soiling the surrounding skin areas of same.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide means facilitating convenient and effective re- Patented Feb. 14, 1961 "ice provide means contributing to substantially increased speed of removal of nail polish from finger nails.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description thereof.

In accordance with the invention, the previously mentioned dificulties connected with the removal of nail polish from finger nails can be successfully eliminated and a definitely advantageous and convenient nail polish remover can be obtained by adding to acidified water or an acid aqueous solution a mixture containing at least one solvent which is diflicultly soluble or insoluble in water, such as ethyl glycol acetate, amyl acetate or butyl acetate; at least one wetting and dispersing agent, such as the condensation products of a fatty alcohol with ethylene oxide; and an emulsifying agent for the difiicultly soluble or water-insoluble solvent.

Such an application of solvents which are diflicultly soluble or insoluble in water has the substantial advantage, as compared to water soluble solvents, that the polish-dissolving power is not reduced, or at least is not reduced considerably by the presence of water. The dissolving time of ethyl glycol, for example, which is 30 seconds, with the same amount of polishand the same temperature, increases to 70 seconds, so that the dissolving power is considerably reduced, if only 10% water, which is a very small amount, is added thereto.

It should realized that solvents which are difficultly soluble in water are not finely divided in water by the conventional wetting and dispersing agents, such as soap, fatty alcohol sulfates, fatty alcohol ethylene oxide condensation products etc.

This ditficulty, however, is overcome by -using, for example, the emulsifier polyoxyethylcne sorbitan monooleate, in the nail polish remover according to the invention. The addition of an emulsifier permits also considerable savings in solvents and prevents the separation of layers (water, solvent).

The acidification, provided according to the invention, which can be effected by addition of an acid, such as hydrochloric acid, lactic acid, citric acid, etc., or of salts with acid reaction, such as ammonium chloride, has the effect that the skin pores are closed, so that the fat present is not removed from the skin by the soap or by the solvent. If, for example, the hand is dipped into acetic acid, the skin becomes practically white, after the evaporation of the solvent, due to the absence of fat.

A special advantage of such an acidification, which could not be foreseen, is that the time necessary for the removal of the polish under a given set of conditions is reduced surprisingly by about one third, as it can be seen from the comparison tests hereinafter referred to.

Furthermore, the nail polish remover according to the invention has the following advantages, compared to the presently known nail polish removers:

(a) The polish dissolves very rapidly, so that all ten finger nails are free from it within 1 to 1 minutes.

(b) Due to the acidification, which preferably effects a pH value of 3 to 3.5, the skin pores are closed, so that removal of the fat from the skin by the solvents and dispersing agents is prevented.

(c) The polish dissolves without smearing the adjoining skin areas, since the polish layer dissolves into very fine particles which no longer adhere to the skin.

(d) If suitable wetting and dispersing agents are selected, the wetted skin areas are at the same time liber- 3 the cuticle is softened at the ssme'time, so that a subsequent manicure treatment is facilitated.

(g) If solvents with a boiling water point of over 130' C. are used, the mixture is not inflammable, even at temperatures of 35 to 40 C.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the nail polish remover can be produced at first as a concentrate, which is then mixed with water or an aqueous solution as required. Such an agent according to the invention for the production of a nail polish remover concentrate consists thus of a mixture of at least one solvent, which is diflicultly soluble or insoluble in water, such as ethyl glycol acetate, methyl glycol acetate, amyl acetate or butyl acetate, said solvent being solidified, if necessary; at least one wetting and dispersing agent, such as the condensation products of a fatty alcohol with ethylene oxide; an acid or other substance dissociating with the formation of hydrogen ions; and an emulsifier for the solvent which is diificultly soluble or insoluble in water. The said mixture is enclosed in any easy-to-open gelatin capsule and when opened, the mixture is combined with preferably hot water or an aqueous solution, as required.

According to another "embodiment of the invention, the mixture, which can be solidified if necessary, can be stored in an absorbent carrier, such as, for example, a piece of foam rubber, textile fabric, or like material.

Finally, a skin and nail cosmetic, such as vitamin F-containing oils, disinfectants, odor correctives, etc., can

, be added to the nail polish remover according to the invention, as has been already suggested for other nail polish removers. Y

- As an example of the invention, the following mixture was prepared:

89 parts ethyl glycol acetate as a solvent parts fatty alcohol ethylene oxide condensate of lauryl alcohol as a dispersing agent emplsifier 1 part acetic acid for acidification 0f the above mixture, cc. are added to a bath of about 50 cc. water at C. It is sufiicient if the finger tips and nails are dipped for a short time in such a bath to remove the nail polish.

Furthermore, 15 cc. of the mixture indicated in the above example are compounded with approximately 4 grams of finely divided silicic acid and then pressed into tablets and if necessary, by means of presses and with the addition of other suitable means. Such tablets are then 4disso (bred for use in about cc. water of approximately It is to be noted,'however, that if the solidified mixture were to be prepared without addition of acid, or i! there is no acid in the hot water, the finely divided silica does not release the adsorbed substances, or does so only very slowly, practice.

The solidification or compression of the mixture does not have to be efiected to such an extent that a solid and dry pressed tablet is formed. By adding 5 to 7% finely divided silica, a paste can be produced from the mixture of solvents, dispersing agents and emulsifiers, which gives oil? the adsorbed substances to the water with sufiicient rapidity only in the presence of acid (pH 3 to 3 As far as the dispersing agent is concerned, it is not advantageous to use ordinary wetting agents or soaps. Instead, fatty alcohol ethylene oxide condensates, particularly the condensation product of lauryl alcohol with 7 to 8 moles ethylene oxide, are employed. These products cleanse the skin thoroughly without any mechanical operation.

The following comparison tests illustrate the short diaso that the polish remover is inefiective in solving time and the resulting dissolving power of the nail polish remover according to the invention.

Nail polish was spread uniformly 'on glass plates (slides) and dried for 24 hours at room temperature. The glass plates were then dipped under slight rubbing into the respective test mixtures at the same temperature, and the time was measured that elapsed until complete cleansing was achieved.

The following mixtures were thus tested:

(l) Solvent (ethyl glycol acetate, methyl glycol acetate, amyl acetate, butyl acetate or a mixture thereof) and 2% dispersing agent (fatty alcohol ethylene oxide condensate); :20 cc. of this mixture were added to 50 cc. water at 34 C. The time of dissolution was 42 seconds.

(2) 16 parts solvent according to (1),.2 parts dispersing agent, and 2 parts emulsifier were prepared and 20 cc. of this mixture were added to 50 cc. water of 34 C. The time of dissolution was 42 seconds.

The addition of the emulsifier has a definitely accelerating efi'ect, since about 20% of solvent was saved, as compared to test (1), with the same duration.

(3) Preparation as in test (2), the aqueous phase being acidified with acetic acid, lactic acid, citric acid or ammonium chloride to a pH of 3 to 3.5. 20 cc. of thismixture were added to 50 cc. acidified water at 34 C. The time of dissolution was 30 seconds.

- The savings in solvents obtained in tests (2) and (3) are important also with regard to the packaging of the nail polish remover, smaller individual packages being thus made possible.

Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention and it is intended that such obvious changes and modifications be embraced by the annexed claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is:

l. A nail polish remover having a pH of between 3 and 3.50 when about 15 parts by volume thereof are added to about 50 parts of water by volume, comprising 89 parts of ethyl glycol acetate, 5 parts of the ethylene oxide condensate of lauryl alcohol having 7 to 8 moles of ethylene oxide, 5 parts of polyoxyethylene sorbitan mono-oleate, and 1 part of acetic acid.

2. A composition for use as a finger nail polish remover comprising a solution solidified in finely divided silica, said solution comprising 89 parts of ethyl glycol acetate, 5 parts of the ethylene oxide condensate of lauryl alcohol having 7 to 8 moles of ethylene oxide, 5 parts of polyoxyethylene sorbitan mono-oleate, and 1 part of acetic acid, said composition having a pH of 3 to 3.50 when about 15 parts of said composition by volme are added to about 50 parts by volume of water.

3. A composition for use as a finger nail polish remover, comprising.89 parts by volume of ethyl glycol acetate, about 5 parts by volume of the ethylene oxide condensate of lauryl alcohol having 7 to 8 moles of ethylene oxide, about 5 parts by volume of an emulsifier for said solvent in the form of polyoxyethylene sorbitan mono-oleate, and about 1 part by volume of acetic, said composition being contained in an easy to open gelatin capsule and having -a pH of 3 to 3.50 when about 15 parts by volume of said composition are added to about 50 parts by volume of water.

4. A water-soluble tablet for use as a finger nail polish remover when dissolved in about 50 cc. of water, said tablet comprising about 15 cc. of a solution solidified in about four grams of finely divided silica, said solution comprising about 89 parts by volume of ethyl glycol acetate, about 5 parts by volume of the ethylene oxide condensate of lauryl alcohol having 7 to 8 moles of ethylene oxide, about 5 parts by volume of polyoxyethylene sorbitan mono-oleate, and about 1 part by volume of acetic acid, said composition having a pH of 3 to 3.50

5 when said tablet is added to about 50 parts by volume FOREIGN PATENTS of water 895,047 Germany Oct. 29, 1953 References Cited in the file of this patent 1067562 France 1954 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 OTHER REFERENCES 871.750 Austen et a1 Nov. 19, 1907 Gregory: Uses and Applications of Chemicals and 1,970,578 Schoeller et a1. Aug. 21, 1934 Related Materials (1939),v Reinhold Pub. Corp, pp. 64, 2,169,344 Kimball Aug. 15, 1939 121, 278, 388. 2,197,630 Carter Apr. 16, 1940 m Atlas Surface Active Agents, pp. 8-10 and 15, pub. by 2,2 1,129 Klinkenstein Aug. 13, 1940 Atlas Powder Co., Wilmington, Del. (1948). 2,303,932 Guild Dec. 1, 1942 Chemical Formulary by Bennett, vol. IX, p. 90, pub. ,41 ,168 Klcinick Oct. 29, 1946 by Chemical Publishing Co., Brooklyn (1951). 

1. A NAIL POLISH REMOVER HAVING A PH OF BETWEEN 3 AND 3.50 WHEN ABOUT 15 PARTS BY VOLUME THEREOF ARE ADDED TO ABOUT 50 PARTS OF WATER BY VOLUME, COMPRISING 89 PARTS OF ETHYL GLYCOL ACETATE, 5 PARTS OF THE ETHYLENE OXIDE CONDENSATE OF LAURYL ALCOHOL HAVING 7 TO 8 MOLES OF ETHYLENE OXIDE, 5 PARTS OF POLYOXYETHYLENE SORBITAN MONO-OLEATE, AND 1 PART OF ACETIC ACID. 